The National tribune., 1887-02-24
VETERANS! MAKE REPLY.
Let the Press and Your Congressman
Hear From You.


Comrades Of He Grand Army.
During the past four years the National
Pension Committee Of the Grand Army Of
the Republic has labored TO secure from Con-
gress, among other propositions, such
liberalization Of the pension laws as would
remove from the almshouses of the country,
by granting them pensions, the thousands of
shattered and broken veterans who are now
eking out apauper's existence. The absolute
justice of this demand has been unanimously
affirmed over and over again by the National
Encampment and by thousands Of Posts
throughout the country.
Last month the two Houses of Congress
passed a bin TO this effect; it was not SO
comprehensive, not so broad, not so just
bill as the Grand Army desired, but its
effect would have been to at least remove
from public pauperism those needy veterans
now solely dependent on charity.
This bill has been vetoed by the Presi-
dent of the United States Almost in the
same week the Mexican pension bill, based
on precisely the same principle, only more
broad and with less limitations and restric-
tons, was approved.
The death or removal to parts unknown
OF Surgeons, officers and comrades, during
the more than quarter of century since
the beginning Of the war; absolutely dcbars
many of the survivors of the conflict with
rebellion from producing the proof re-
quired by existing laws that their present
disabilities arose from their army service.
Look around you, comrades, in yOur i'm
mediate neighborhood, and you will find,
on every hand, veterans of unquestioned
record, or widows Of comrades gone, whom
You know TO be amply deserving of pen
siOns, but who are unable to obtain them
under existing laws, because Of some techni-
cality in the record, or from loss Of evidence.
If this veto is to stand; if the veterans
do not make the air ring with their vigorous
and emphatic protest. that the people may
not fail to comprehend-then the end of
pension legislation has come. If we cannot
secure pension law for the survivors Of the
late war as liberal as that enacted for the
Mexican veterans; if we cannot secure
legislation to take few needy ones out of
the poorhouses and save them from a pau
per's grave, what hope for anything?
If this veto is TO stand, then the charity
funds of the Posts and the public almshouses
will be the only hope Of any and all present
or future dependent ones who have not al
ready pensions
The COmmander-in-Chief has asked an
expression of opinion from the Posts Of the
Grand Army relative TO this veto. Let it be
prompt, sharp, emphatic. Let there be no
delay or omission. Let every Post speak at
its next meeting. Send one copy of the vote
or resolutions to the Member of Congress
from the district and another copy to Ma
tional Headquarters
Some of the leading newspapers have de-
clared that the honest soldier sentiment
was in favor Of the veto; in favor of the
retention Of $4,000 of their comrades in the
pauper-houses of the land
Let the veterans Of the Grand Army make
reply, and with such promptness and decisive
ness as will emphasize their words.
Let no Post in the land fail TO act at once.
Yours, for justice,
GEO. S. MERRILL, Chairman,
National GAR. Pension Committee
GENEROUSLY BESTOWED"
Mr. Cleveland lays much stress upon the
way the Government has generously be-